List of critically endangered mammals facts for kids

Critically endangered (CR) species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Imagine a world where some of our favorite animals might disappear forever. That's what "critically endangered" means. It's the most serious warning level for animals and plants. It means they are at a very, very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global group that checks on the health of species around the world. As of early 2020, they listed 203 different kinds of mammals as critically endangered. This includes 31 species that might already be extinct, meaning they haven't been seen in a long time.

About 3.5% of all mammals that the IUCN has checked are critically endangered. They also list many mammal subspecies (smaller groups within a species) and even specific populations within a species as critically endangered. Sometimes, there isn't enough information to know how many of an animal are left. These are called "data deficient." Even though we don't know their exact status, the IUCN suggests we should still pay close attention to them. This list shows some of the mammals that need our help the most.

Primates: Our Closest Relatives

There are 63 species and 36 subspecies of primates that are critically endangered. Primates include monkeys, apes, and lemurs.

Gibbons: Singing Apes

Gibbons are known for their loud calls and swinging through trees.

Species

Great Apes: Our Big Cousins

Western gorilla

Eastern gorilla

Bornean orangutan

Sumatran orangutan

Tapanuli orangutan

Great apes are some of the smartest animals. They include gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees.

Species

Subspecies

Lemurs: Unique to Madagascar

Golden-crowned sifaka

Lemurs are primates found only on the island of Madagascar. They come in many shapes and sizes.

Species

Subspecies

Tarsiers: Big-Eyed Night Hunters

Tarsiers are small primates with huge eyes, perfect for seeing at night.

Species

• Siau Island tarsier

Subspecies

• Natuna Islands tarsier

Old World Monkeys: Diverse and Widespread

Celebes crested macaque

These monkeys live in Africa and Asia. They include macaques, colobus monkeys, and langurs.

Species

Subspecies

New World Monkeys: From the Americas

These monkeys live in Central and South America. They include spider monkeys, howler monkeys, and capuchins.

Species

Subspecies

Lorises: Slow and Stealthy

Lorises are small, slow-moving primates found in Asia.

• Javan slow loris

Odd-Toed Ungulates: Hoofed Mammals

These animals have hooves with an odd number of toes, like horses and rhinoceroses.

Species

Black rhinoceros in Etosha National Park

Subspecies

Cetartiodactyls: Whales, Dolphins, and Hoofed Animals

Cetartiodactyla is a large group that includes amazing animals like dolphins and whales, as well as hoofed animals like deer and giraffes. There are 15 species, nine subspecies, and nine specific groups of cetartiodactyls that are critically endangered.

Non-Cetacean Even-Toed Ungulates

These are hoofed animals with an even number of toes.

Kordofan giraffe at Paris Zoological Park

Species

Subspecies

Cetaceans: Whales and Dolphins

These are marine mammals that live in the ocean.

Species

• Baiji (possibly extinct)
• Vaquita
• Rice's whale
• North Atlantic right whale
• Atlantic humpback dolphin

Subspecies

Subpopulations

Marsupials: Pouch Mammals

Marsupials are mammals that often carry their young in a pouch, like kangaroos and koalas.

Carnivora: Meat Eaters

Red wolf

Javan leopard

Carnivores are animals that primarily eat meat. This group includes cats, dogs, and bears.

Species

Subspecies

Subpopulations

Eulipotyphla: Shrews and Moles

This group includes small, insect-eating mammals like shrews and moles.

Lagomorpha: Rabbits and Pikas

This group includes rabbits, hares, and pikas.

Rodents: Gnawing Mammals

There are 58 species and one subspecies of rodent assessed as critically endangered. Rodents are known for their strong, continuously growing front teeth.

Hystricomorpha: Porcupine-like Rodents

This group includes animals like porcupines and guinea pigs.

Myomorpha: Mice, Rats, and More

There are 37 species in Myomorpha assessed as critically endangered. This group includes many types of mice, rats, and hamsters.

Murids: True Mice and Rats

Central rock rat

This family includes common mice, rats, and gerbils.

Cricetids: Hamsters, Voles, and New World Rodents

Bavarian pine vole

This group includes hamsters, voles, lemmings, and many New World rats and mice.

Nesomyids: African and Madagascan Rodents

• Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse

Castorimorpha: Beaver-like Rodents

This group includes beavers and pocket gophers.

Species

Subspecies

• Alcorn's pocket gopher

Sciuromorpha: Squirrel-like Rodents

This group includes squirrels, marmots, and chipmunks.

• Namdapha flying squirrel
• Vancouver Island marmot

Bats: Flying Mammals

Livingstone's fruit bat

Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. They are found all over the world.

Other Mammals

This section includes other unique mammals that are critically endangered.

Species

Chinese pangolin

Subspecies

• Sumatran elephant

Subpopulations

• Juliana's golden mole (1 subpopulation)

See also

• Lists of IUCN Red List critically endangered species
• List of least concern mammals
• List of near threatened mammals
• List of vulnerable mammals
• List of endangered mammals
• List of recently extinct mammals
• List of data deficient mammals